Transcript: Barshefsky Interview

We know that China has an appalling human rights record. I know that you're very much in favor of engaging China. Is that just economically?

CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY: I've always been cautious about claims that economic opening leads to democracy. But I'll tell you this, if there is a means of moving China, maybe not to democracy, but to greater political pluralism, if there is a means, it will come from economic engagement with the West. The beginning of Western values in China -- the net, and telecom market opening from WTO, where the average Chinese person can get online and get information from anywhere in the world.

DALJIT DHALIWAL: But the Chinese

CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY: It'll be ...

DALJIT DHALIWAL: ... trying to suppress that (Overlap/Inaudible) ...

CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY: Oh, good luck, good luck. The technology will win on that one. And once that economic door's open, then you may have the basis for a further opening of the political system.

DALJIT DHALIWAL: It sounds like you're almost predicting the death knoll of communism there.

CHARLENE BARSHEFSKY: No, we can't make choices for the Chinese people. But what we can do is to try and increase the number of options available from which to choose. That's the role of the United States in this process with China. They will choose whatever it is they decide to choose. But I think we will have contributed to a further opening of this vast country.